Are most people happy? Dennis Wholey, author of Are You Happy? reports that according to expert opinion, perhaps only 20 percent of Americans are happy.

Those experts would probably agree with the wry definition of happiness offered by psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, who said, “Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children and by children to adults.”

Are you happy? What if we define happiness as an abiding mood of joyful contentment, a deep-down state of peace and hope, not just an upbeat, fleeting feeling induced by favorable happenings? Now, in light of that definition of happiness, are you happy?

In His “Sermon on the Mount,” our Lord gave us His prescription for a life that is truly happy regardless of circumstances. Most English translations of Matthew 5 use the word blessed, but Jesus was actually promising happiness. He repeatedly assured His disciples that they would be happy if they trusted Him and practiced His teachings.

The Great Physician has prescribed this remedy for unhappiness. Have you tried it? Take it and rejoice with the “happy minority.”

  — Vernon C. Grounds